Holothuria (Halodeima) edulis Lesson, 1830

THANDAR, AHMED S., 2007, Additions to the aspidochirotid, molpadid and apodid holothuroids (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) from the east coast of southern Africa, with descriptions of new species, Zootaxa 1414 (1), pp. 1-62 : 16

Holothuria (Halodeima) edulis Lesson, 1830

Holothuria edulis Lesson, 1830:125 , p1.46, fig.2; Massin, 1999: 21 (synonymy & records before 1999), fig. 14, 110d; Samyn, 2003:36 (records after 1999), Fig. 14 .

Type MNHNP .

Type locality Molluccas , Indonesia .

Previous southern African record Mozambique.

Material examined Several specimens taken alive from the Sodwana Reef, KZN, by the Sea World in Durban.

Local distribution Mocambique to northern KZN, South Africa.

General distribution

Throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific region but not yet recorded from the West Indian Ocean Islands, Persian Gulf, W. India, Pakistan and Hawaii, 0–20 m.

Remarks

This species is well characterised by its bright pink ventral colouration and reduced table discs. It was first recorded from Mozambique by Semper (1868) and H.L. Clark (1923). Thandar & Samyn’s (2004) is the first record of the species from South Africa.

Figures

FIGURE 14. Holothuria (Stauropora) pervicax Selenka, 1867. SAM–A27936. A. tables from dorso-lateral body wall; B. buttons from dorsal-lateral body wall; C. button-like plates from ventral podia; D. perforated plates from ventral podia; E. rods from ventral podia; F. rods from dorsal podia; G. rods from tentacles. G scale a; (A–C scale b; D–F scale c)